New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-04
ART NEWS AND COMMENTS.
THE WEEK IN ART CIRCLES.
SALES AT THE ACADEMY-THE FULLER EXHIBITION
ART NEWS ELSEWHERE.

Academicans 20 find the reform policy so heartily
appreciated and inGorsed. The galleries have never
had more cheerful appearance at an Academy exhi-
bition and If has seldom hlppened before that nearly
every painting could be comfortably seem IL was
amusing to see the surprise of some visitors when they
realized the changed character OF the exhibition. Inc
Academy has already made new friends ana regaiheu
confidence and it is not TO be doubted that the new
policy of presenting strong wcchosen, fairly repre-
sentative exhibitions will be to the advantage OF the
Academy and will enhance public respect for
American art.
he list furnished OF Saturdays sales shows encour
agings results. About thirty pictures were sold for
nearly $4,000. Those sold for 500 or over were
Evening"" Ii. Bolton Jones' $500; The First Com
munion." Constant Mayer so. 800; Getting into Hot
Water" w. H. Lippincott, 5000; Near Cape Eliza
oeth," a. T. Bricher $500; Old Whalers OF Nan
tucket," Eastman Johnson. 5000; Buckwheat
Cakes" Alfred Kappes $500; "Tne Secret" NJ H.
Dixon SI75; " The Watched Pot Thomas Hovenden,
$500; A Quiet Afternoon" II. bolton Jones, $3.50;
La Mandolinata" William Morgan, $500; and |" A
| Study" James ID. Smile, $50.
The little collection of George Fuler's pictures at
Richards Gallery includes two figure paintings OF I'M
portanca the " Arehusa" aud "Nyda," the land
scape Driving Home the Calf" two compositions,
| And She Was Witch" and {" Girl and Calf" in
which the element Of human interest predomnates
over the landscape and half dozen portr lit studies
some of which are called ideal he ads" Such COM
pete exhibition of the artists works that held at the
| Boston Art Museum in 1SS4 will not be seen again,
but it is pity that OF those pictures like the
| " " inifred Drysart," " Kentucky Turkey Pasture
and Gathcrer of Smples" could not have been OBJ.
tanned to round out this collection The " Arcthusa"
is practically lent by the Boston Art Museum whch Is
to become its owner and the loan of other pictures
| might have been secured and the exhibition given
representative and more gracious character AS
il is, however, there i've pictures when FURNISH
not indifferent opportunity tor acquaintance with the
artists aims methods and achievements. These pct-
ures we're PAINTED at least finished in the last year
or two of his lite The "Arsthusa is commonly ac-
| counted hs last picture, although we believe the
Fidamav was really his final work. Mr. Fullefs
pictures were always painted in the middle distance,
never in the immediate oreground but the figure OF
the nymph Arethusa reclining beside the fountain is
brought forward more than many perhaps most OF his
figures 1t Gay be because the figure less apparently
yelled by atmosI here that the artists chief technica
failing becomes evident, his weakness in design.
The incorrect proDutons and seeming want OF connec
tOu between torso and legs enhanced by the aD-
rupt patch o. OPAQUE shadow which divides the figure
The attitude is characterized by effort tor grace
which like the drawing cannot be termed successful
And yet. although cannot share the opinion which
pronounces tins the artists masterpiece no one with
any true feeling for would exchange it tor the in
81 Did of Bougereau The innocent, lovely
face face not classic and yet truthtuy expressive
is very charming, and there is much beauty OF color
and the back ground has depth and richness In the
Nydi" on the otlct hand il IL the action OF the hg
than the which attracts, and the touch
of red is an unfortunate feature OF the coorng The
Girl With Calf is almost staueslue figure, but
the eyes suggest au exaggerated ROmnny Girl and
neither figure nor Landscape makes ITSELF strongly felt
Il is interesting III And She Was a Witch to com
pare the artists rendering OF motif tie tied so often
| 10y others lie shows a young snl iearinly seeking
! the shelter OF her home. giancin2 backward toward
the Dalelu hgure led away between two guardiihs
The cuorng and Vagueness OF The fjrms give an at
mosphere OF mystery and dread rs in the Gatherer OF
Snplcs picture OF still more potent suggestveness,
This sympathet atmosphere II the expression may De
| allowed, this immediate connection between manner
and idea characteristic OF the artist at MS BEST
more cheerful note sounded in the landscape naivey
| entitled Driving Home the CALI The hgures are oi
no couseouence What concerns MS ia the yellow and
green wooded hillside. shldowy in its opposition to the
luminous sky against which Heats foliage that would
tel! us-were it not already known-oi fui'ers nj,
! mratou Tor CorOt. The landscape. though thln Ill
quality in a strong light. has oycusness and beauty
/ OF it's own.
The best OF George Fuller's pictures not here.
but this collection Is strong enough TO do little inius
tce to the artist These pictures show bis feeling Tor
color Tor form soitened by atmosphere his avoidance
rigid lines aud his habit OF choosing central idea
tor preston and subOrdnating all else to the entire
neglect OF details In large sense his best Work was
truthful, tor he purpOsey omitted whatever he deemed
unimportant, and truth with him was the expression
suggestion OF his chie thought "a the artlessness
! and innocence of tho ATethusa or he dread and
| gloom OF the witch hunt "Nyda.' less successful
picture. might well pass under another name, yet the
attitude OF the figure Is significant and II has an ndi-
vldunl charm. OF the heads show the mellow
tone at which the always aimed, and one or two
|
than usual In his portrait OF his son Mr. uer un-
doubleday caught a Characteristic expression, but
those who have studied his collected portraits nave
found to DC thankful that his reputation does
rcst npon this branch of art. No one doubts that
George Fuller a true artist earnest sensitive
cairyoyant finely imaginative. but 1t seems doubtful
whether his work would have developed higher Results
ne had lived. lie was not living IN health, atnos-
phero. and strong as his individuality was he must
have been Affected by the burning OF the Dos
tonans who canonZed Fuller as they had Hunt. No
American artist since Hunt has had more mpassioned
and more eloquent oulogists than Fuller Ii may not
be ALWAYS possible agree with their estimates OF his
work in art bot refrain from honoring his
purposes approaching his imaginative quality aud ad
mIing many OF his achievements
Tie "Natonal Academy Notes. edited by Mr..
| Charles NJ. Kurtz. appears for the seventh time and
will be found serviceable before Ii includes the
contents the official catalogue, running desert tion
of the galleries In regular order information concern
ing schools, prizes and the art attractions OF the
CITY," and photoeDgrayings alter drawings made by
various artists from their paintings in the exhibition
| Inc continued publication OF the " Notes. shows that
there many who rely upon II rs convenient guide
to the exhibition or souvenir OF permanent value.
The April " Art Amateur" contains much gossip re-
gardng collectors of poceains, Japanese crystal balls
and other oil the Orient together with 40
counts OF recent sales. study by Mr. }. C. Beckwth,
reproduced Tor the supplement- rather curious than
beautiful. In the March number OF American Art
we, find the familiar plea Tor National Gallery a
salon. and purchases of pctu ali under the patron
aye OF paternal Government" In another editorial
upon the tariff occurs the following with people OF
means generally the value OF picture is measured
considerably by the difficulty IN obtaining 1t and by Its
Increased cost. Consequently find that more for
eign pictures sold in this country and at bet
ter prices than before, while pictures by Aneri-
cans no more in demand than they would be were
| there no tariff. In fact, it is somewhat curious to
notice the few artists who principally in
strumcnta in securing the imposition Of the present
tariff with idea of eli-protecton, cannot now begin
to get the prices for their work that they could
But who are these artists There has been vague talk
| of this kind since the duty imposed Mr..
| Berstadt was mentioned, but he denied any connec-
| ton with the increase IN duty In an indefinite way
hnxta all dad IN hnt hnr
artist OF any prominence who has openly avowed his
support OF the duty. respondent of another Bos
ton magazine, " The American Architect urges our
al chitccts to reproduce OF the old timber build
ngs OF En gland and the Continent in modern villas
and business houses. The pondent notes prog
toward the pictures and variety OF the
! Mild.e Agea In tmber archeetnre. but depores